Combined washing, fruit-canning, and cooking machine.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Dec. 14,1909

NA W.' MIRACLE.

APPLICATION PLED DEO. 29,190B.

COMBINE-D WASHING, FRUIT GANNING, AND COOKING MACHINE.

M. W. MIRACLE. COMBINED WASHING, FRUIT GANNING, AND COOKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 29, 1908.

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sl/Vitumow UNITED srATns Para onine.

MERIDETH W. MIRACLE, OF ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONEJ-IALF TO A. M. SOSBEE, OF ARDMORE, OKLAHONIA.

COMBINED FJASHING, FRUT-CANNING, AND COOKING MACHINE.

To ally whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MERIDETH lV. MIRACLE, a citizen of the United States', residing at Ardmore, in the county of Carter and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined lVashing, Fruit-Canning, and Cooking Machines, of which t-he following is a specification.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in a combination clothes boiler, canning and cooking machine.

The object of my invention is to construct a boiler that will so thoroughly separate the dirt from the clothes or fabrics being laundered that scrubbing will be unnecessary.

Another object of my device is to make the above invention capable of being transformed into a cooking vessel without other trouble than removing` the metal basket contained therein and replacing it by that of another design.

Still another use to which my invention is adapted is in the canning of fruit or vegetables.

lith these and other objects in view my invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts as are herein described in the accompanying specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my device, disclosing the metal basket contained therein. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the metal basket shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my invention is described as follows: The outer tank 1, rests on the furnace 2, provided with a smoke stack 3, said furnace adapted to utilize either wood, coal or gas as fuel. The bottom 4, of said tank 1, is corrugated, designed thus for t-he purpose of increasing its surface. Said furnace 2, is mounted forwardly upon the wheels 5, resting on the legs 6, at its rear, said legs terminating in handles 't'.

A metal basket S, is designed to be received by the tank 1, being held in place in said tank by means of the hooks 9, engaged by suitable means in the side walls of the tank. Said basket 8, comprises two end walls 10,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 29, 1908.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909. serial No. 469,888.

and a bottom 11, all of which are provided with perforations 12. Each side wall is composedof a straight portion 13, la step 14, and a semi-circular portion 15, at the upper edge of said straight portion, said step being formed at right-angles to its lower edge, eX- tending inwardly. The bottom 8, is secured to the steps of said side walls. The exposed edge of each semi-circular portion extends far enough beyond its corresponding side wall that it comes in contact with the adjacent side wall of said tank 1 The desired material being placed in said tank the same is covered by a lid 1G.

The effect which my metal basket will have in the process of boiling clothes and fabrics is explained as follows: rlhe clothes having been placed in the basket, the tank is filled with water almost to the semi-circular portions 15. The heat from the furnace then causes the water in the space 17, to become hot, causing it to rise. As it cannot pass through the perforations in the bottom of the basket without interference, it will therefore rise in the space 18, between the side walls of the basket and the adjacent walls of said tank, respectively. The water contained in these spaces will be forced out through the perforations in the upper part of the straight portion of the side walls of the basket, onto or into the clothes, soaking down through them. lVhen the water finally boils it will circulate with greater rapidity forcing itself higher up into the spaces 1S, partly passing through the said holes in the straight portion of the baskeh partly passing through the perforations in the semi-circular portion 15, striking the clothes at various angles owing to the conveXity of the surface of said last-mentioned portion. The water will pass down through the fabrics into the space 17, through the perforations 12, in the bottom of said basket. This action will continue as long as is desired.

The metal basket illustrated in Fig. 5, is, as stated, for cooking purposes and will hereinafter be referred to as a cooker. Said cooker is provided with U-shaped supports 19, at each end, supporting shelves 20, made of suitable wire fabric. A signal 21, of novel construction, is secured to one of the U-shaped supports of said cooker. The object of this signal is to notify the cook when the tank 1, needs refilling. Said signal 21,

comprises a tube 22, almost touching the bottom of said tank. The lower end of said tube is open or provided with a perforation 23. When the water boils down to such a point that steam can enter the pipe 22, said steam rushes through said pipe, raising a cap 24, at the top of tube 22, exposing a colored surface 25. The cook is then informed that the water in the tank is low. The cap resumes its normal position when the tank is refilled, hiding colored surface 25.

My cooker may be constructed of wire cloth, sheet iron perforated or any suit-able material. This cooker may also be employed as a fruit canner of superior quality, and may be constructed in different sizes to support different sized cans, or any number of them desired. The basket is filled with cans of fruit, which are to be cooked and sealed, said basket or cooker being lowered into the water the proper time, after which it is lifted out, the cans being ready for sealing.

Therefore from the foregoing it will be ascertained that I have a clothes boiler,

fruit canner and cooker', which I believe to be of novel construction as shown.

Though I have specically described my invention, I may exercise the right to make such modifications of the form and construction of my invention as will not fall without the scope of the appended claims, and as will be obviously necessary in its manufacture.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of the class described, a tank, a basket adapted to be received by said tank, said basket comprising two end walls and a bottom, all of which are provided with perforations, each of said side walls being composed of a straight portion, a step and a semi-circular portion, the exposed edge of said semi-circular portion extending far enough beyond the corresponding side wall so that it comes into contact with the adjacent side wall of said tank, said semicircular portion provided with a plurality of row of holes, and means to support said basket at a desired distance from the bottom of said tank, substantially as shown.

2. In a device of the class specified, a tank, a basket received by said tank, said basket comprising two end walls and a bottom, all of which are provided With perforations, each of said sidewalls being composed of a straight portion, a step and a semi-circular portion, said semi-circular portion being integral with said straight portion at the upper edge thereof, said step being formed at right-angles to the lower edge thereof, extending inwardly, the exposed edge of each semi-circular portion extending far enough beyond the corresponding side wall so that it will come in contact with the adjacent side wall of said tank, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device of the class described, comprising a basket, and a tank, said basket consisting of two end walls and a bottom, all of which are provided with perforations, each of said side walls being composed of a straight portion a step and a semi-circular portion, said semi-circular portion being integral with said straight portion at the upper edge thereof, said step being formed at right angles to the lower' edge thereof and extending inwardly, the exposed edge of each semicircular portion extending far enough beyond the corresponding side wall so that it will come into contact with the adjacent side wall of said tank, said straight portion of each side wall provided with a plurality of perforations, each of said semicircular portions provided with a plurality of rows of holes, means to hold said basket at a desired distance from the bottom of said tank, said means comprising hooks secured to the basket at a suitable point, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

MERIDETH W. MIRACLE.

lVitnesses R. T. DALLAS, A. M. SosBEE. 

